The Cecil Whig., 1887-07-16

IN another yacht, were pafayZeu Win
fright, and utterly helpless, to rescue
their drowning families. Supplied with
beer they made little or no ettort to
save life. But for the timely assistance
of solitary coIored man who rescued
seven persons in a row boat the entire
company would have perished. As it
was, but nine out of forty-three persons
were saved, the terrible destruction of
life, being solely traceable 10 the drunk
en- condition of their husbands and
friends, who had been indulsing so free
ly in beer that they were totally incap
able of making any well directed effort
to save the women and children. So
unusual a loss of life, has naturally been
widely commented upon by all the
daily newspapers. The comment of
the Baltimore SIN may be taken
as reasonable sample of this criticism.
Careful investigation" says its edito,
shows, that the terrible and pathetic
disaster by which so many women and
children were hurried to death was di-
rectly dne to the carelessness of Capt.
Hendricks, who was in charge OF the
yacht, who loaded the boat with more
passengers than she could safely carry,
failed to provide himself with a crew
sufficient to navigate her or to protect
| the passengers in case of accident, and
finally, to make assurance of disaster
doubly sure, crowded all sail on his lit
tie vessel in the effort to defeat another
yacht which was pressing him close.
His own life paid the penalty OF his
rashness, but this is no compensation
or consolation to the bereaved parents
and children who have lost those near,
est and dearest to them by the fool
hardness of man whose experience
should have taught him the danger he
was mourning, and whose care should
have been quickened and redoubled by
the consciousness of the utter helpless
ness of those committed to bis keeping.
In cases like this, it is, Of course, diff
cult to provide safeguards that shall be
of universal application and meet every
emergency that arises. The law may
make such provisions as are suggested
by experience, and among them should
undoubtedly be such regulations as
will tend to protect human life on small
pleasure boats as we'll as on larger ves-
sells. But all these provisions may be
rendered nugatory and vain unless
those in charge are fully alive to the
great trust and responsibility com
mltted to them, and unless
they realize fully that they hold
in their hands, as it were, scores of hu-
man lives, for which they are account
able to God and man. No law on this
subject is up to the requirements of
the case unless it prescrbes weighty
penalty for those who recklessly and
criminally endanger the lives of their
passengers.
Now these suggestions of Tile SIN
are all well enough as far as they go.
1t is fair proposition to say that soci-
ETY. should protect human life on small
pleasure boats as well as on larger YES
seIs. That human life should be guard
ed against recklessness on private YES
sels, as well as on public ones. The
argument anticipates the uselessness of
any such laws or regulations, unless
those who assume the charge of vessels
either private or public fully realize the
responsibility of their positions. Now
the first and primary condition OF such
realization on the part of those to
whose care human life is entrusted is
so6J1cb. No Rail Road Company
will knowingly employ an engineer how
ever Skillful if he be addicted to drunk
enness. No yacht owner will risk a
tippling pilot at her wheel. 1t is abso-
lutely essential to the exercise of a
reasonable degree of judgment and
GOODNESS in any responsible position
either on land or water, that those to
whose care and keeping humln life is
committed, shall have ready command
of their faculties. That the head shall
be clear, the mind active, the percep-
tions keen, the nerves steady, and the
hand firm.
Now if society through its constitu-
ted dagenCy-Government--e expects such |
qualifications IN its public serv-
ants, and prescribes penalties for
the loss of life resulting from the lack |
of such qualification, is it logical, is it
reasonable, that it should license, tole-
rate or permit any condition to exist
which is Subversive of the end which it |
has in view-proteCtion of human life
In other words, should Society expect |
Sober officials on our Public Rail Roads, |
Steamboats,, and lines of public travel, |
and yet not only tolerate the Rum traf-
iic, but encourage it by making it
source of Government Revenue, with |
the undisputable evidence, that the |
great majority of private accidents as
well as public disasters are directly
traceable to it.
Capt. Hendricks was under the in
luence of too much beer when he cap
sized his yacht, and thirty-three lives
were lost. He was disqualified for the
proper discharge of his duties as Cap |
tain OF that yacht by its use. He
bought it on Sunday, at a public resort, |